8 Ways to Celebrate REI's #OptOutside on Black Friday

Sharpen an axe. Dig out a canoe. Build an snow cave.

By The Editors

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Yesterday, the outdoor goods giant announced their plans for Black Friday: a nationwide shutdown of all retail locations accompanied by an appeal to all employees to skip marketing's worst-kep scam in favor of a day spent outdoors.

Translation: if you were planning on buying a tent/kayak/crossbow at REI on 11/27, they just canceled on ya.

But fear not, as we've rounded up video tutorials on how to build all the above — along with five other (debatably) essential survival skills — below.

Call it the #optoutside man's guide to Black Friday.

How to: Build a Primitive Wattle and Dub Hut From ScratchIf he can do it, you can totally do it.

How to: Build a YurtYou may or may not enjoy the soundtrack.

How to: Make a Crossbow from ScratchDon't shoot your eye out.

How to: Make a Dugout Boat from a Tree TrunkThis stunning video comes courtesy of Werner "Sad Teuton" Herzog. For a more practical approach, see here.

How to: Build a Treehouse in One WeekYou'll have to read between the still images a bit — but this proves it can be done.

How to: Tap a Maple TreePut down the Aunt Jemima and slowly back away.

How to: Build a Snow CaveSnow required. Or a lot of leaves.

How to: Cut FirewoodCourtesy of a man who identifies himself as the "Wood Slayer"